The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-10
Children's Rights.

Special to che indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK, July "a small boy fat on his
face in q puddle in confidential intercourse with
half dozen sociable ducks, bare-footed girl
toddline beside him and emulating her brother
in his overtures to their gossipy playmates,
these were Rosini Vokes two children, enjoying
what comparatively few urchins know anything
about nowadays, genuine frolic down by the
seashore the other day. They were estasically
happy Every square inch of clothing upon
them was candidate for the washtub. They
knew it, They did not care. Their mother
never received more genuine and thorough 60
ing com pliment that was implied in their utter
oblivion of consequences in the inter of dress.
Healthy children love dirt-axiom No i.
White gowns and EN- proideries hate dirt-axiom
No. 2 The child and its clothes are-and. as
things go, ought TO be-sworn enemies 1t Is
one of the important decisions OF the summer
campaign with which of the two contending
forces the mother will join alliance. Daintily
immaculate and unhappy, or dirty, comfortable
and rosy7 1t is rare mother who can rise to
clothes are Of all tiny wretches the most to be
pitied. See them standing about sunny lawn
of q summer morning their ears hlled with eau
tons about soiling or tearing. the fear or this
petty disaster that REFRESHING every natural
instinct toward the most innocent of childish
romps. The folly of it is equaisd only by the
cruelty of it .Ladyllke" children you may call
them; unchildike, robbed of their birthright,
they look to me-
There is one essential principle only that fought
to be remembered in fitting the little people out
for country or seashore, or mountain pleasur-
ings. The dress for the wee girl must be one
that she can be utterly unconscious OF. 1t
should not restrict the action of the limbs In any
manoeuvre that the urchin sees lit to undertake.
and it should be SO simple that the chiids
mother will not care nor make her small
daughter care how many pieces go TO the laun'
dry. To be ''brown as q berry" is a small thing;
to improve the digestion, to increase the endur-
ance, to harden the muscles. to learn something
! of nature by free observation and Investigation
of every conceivable If unconventional sort, these
things are worth while and might easily be part
OF every child's vacation harvest
A boy will usually conquer his rights Tor him.
self For girl. if had the choice between fit
ting her for Vassar and seeing her brilliant
schola- in corsets the one side, and rescuing
her from her shoes, lberating her from her
hustle they come in six-year-old sizes now, you
knowl, saving her from her gown and breaking
the letters that nd her TO her COMPLEXION on
the other, it would not be hard to say which way
reason would incline even if wanted to make
Mary Summerville or Maria Mitchell OF her in
the end.
Let girl run through the dewy grass, let her
play ball and ride the horses TO water bare back,
and when you have kept it up for generation
or two you will have fewer little graves out on
the hillside, and more hearty healthy. happy
women in the land. ~ saw yoxs in the top Of tho
walnut tree in the long meadow. yesterday" said
q neighbory passer to one OF the New York
newspaper women year or two only before she
became a member of the craft. Flow did you
know it was I7' because you are the only
woman in town who could get there and the
tribute to her climbing ability pleased the lis
.ener more that any sne is ever likely to win oy
gins soon enough for girls. Let them be happy
In Holland linens, in ginghams. in sailor dresses
OF flannel. in jersey suits comfortable as their
brothers kits or trousers. while they can.